Vegetarian in England

Pauline Kenny

I am a vegetarian and I find England to be the most vegetarian-friendly
country in Europe. Because there are a large number of vegetarians and vegans
in England, finding vegetarian options in restaurants is easy. People running
restaurants usually understand the difference between vegetarian and vegan
and can tell you which items would be good for you.

Most towns have a natural foods store and the large supermarkets (especially
Waitrose) sell natural and organic food products. Organically grown foods
are very popular in England. You can also find good locally grown vegetables
and locally made food products. If you eat dairy products, you will find very
good quality products in England. England is famous for its cheese production.

Veggie version of a Sunday Roast lunch at a pub in London

Tea Rooms

The most common vegetarian options in Tea Rooms are cheese sandwiches and
jacket potatoes (baked potatoes with stuffings). Tea Rooms are a great place
to have a good, but inexpensive, lunch. Read more
about Tea Rooms and see a sample menu.

Pubs

Many country pubs now serve very good food at lunch and dinner. I had many
good vegetarian lunches in country pubs. The photo above shows a vegetarian
Sunday Roast served at a pub in London - and it was really good!

Restaurants

We ate at several upscale restaurants in the Cotswolds and in London, and
all had several vegetarian entrees. The vegetarian meals we had were very
good. You will also find vegetarian restaurants throughout England (see resources
below). If you are planning a meal out, call the restaurant or drop by to
see its menu, to be sure there will be vegetarian options.

There is a large Indian community in England, and lots of Indian restaurants,
which are always vegetarian-friendly. You will find an Indian restaurant in
most moderate sized towns in England. Chinese restaurants, which always have
good vegetarian options, are also in most towns. Even the Fish and Chips shops
sometimes offer a veggie option (but if you are strict, make sure the cooking
oil is vegetarian).

Prepared Meals

Supermarkets in England (especially Waitrose and Marks and Spenser) have
very good prepared meals, which you can take back to your vacation rental
to reheat. They have a good vegetarian selection. Read more about Prepared Meals.

Veg Dining: www.vegdining.com
Worldwide list of vegetarian restaurants. Good selection for the UK.

Vegetarian Society of the United Kingdom: www.vegsoc.org
This is the oldest vegetarian organization in the world. It is an educational
charity promoting understanding and respect for vegetarian lifestyles.

European Vegetarian Union: www.europeanvegetarian.org
Information about vegetarian groups in Europe and a database of vegetarian
restaurants throughout Europe with listings for Switzerland, Germany, Austria,
Portugal (and only a few for France, Belgium, Ireland).

Vegetarian Visitor 2005, Where to Stay and Eat in Britain,
by Annemarie Weitzel, Jon Carpenter Publishing, 2005
Lists of vegetarian-oriented accommodations and restaurants in England,
Scotland and Wales.